This release from the Seillan family is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked between September 14th and the 30th. It has a dark core, and a vibrant crimson rim. On the nose I find smoked black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant and currant fruits, scented with rose petals, charcoal and toast. The palate presents a bed of softly polished and creamed fruit mirroring the nose, with great energy and a fresh lift from the acidity, with fine texture, peppery vivacity and some softly creamed tannins with a firm bite at the edges. Long with a ripe grip, I see plenty of primary substance here, and lots of potential too.

Powerful, dense and velvety, with star anise and salty black licorice flavors that show whiffs of smoke, bay leaf and black tea, mingling with currant, spiced stewed plum and cassis on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2036.

Distinctive, with dried sage, rosemary, cigar box and hinoki oil, complimenting the ripe plum and cherry cobbler flavors that are harmonious and savory on the finish, with feltlike tannins. Drink now through 2032.

An elegant red, offering understated cherry, berry and cranberry flavors that gain momentum, with green tea, forrest floor and blood orange details and silky tannins. Ends with notes of cedar and tobacco on the long finish. Drink now through 2035.

Showing off its inky color, the 2017 Mt. Brave Cabernet Franc exudes class with its silky mouthfeel and great mid-palate depth and concentration. Full-throttle tar, anise, creme de cassis and loganberry cordial flavors all come together with minerals and loamy soils on the palate. High-toned dark florals add to the enjoyment as this outstanding new bottling has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2038

Smoky, ripe strawberry and warming Christmas cake tones, complemented by rosehip, sappy cherry fruit and chalky minerality.

Beautiful ruby color followed by notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, forest floor and leather with a hint of spicy oak in the background. The oak is completely balanced by the wine's rich fruit, medium-bodied texture, and impressive purity, length and equilibrium. This elegant Bordeaux is ready to drink now and should be drunk within the next five years. Try will grilled lamb chops or a rich beef stew.

Lots of licorice and blackberry aromas with violets and hints of fresh leather. Full-bodied with very fine-grained tannins that give the wine length and depth. So well crafted and long. Really excellent. Elegance with power. Drinkable now, but give it a year or three to show its really excellence. Best after 2023.

Lots of ripe fruit with spices and flowers on the nose. It’s full-bodied with soft, round tannins and a chewy finish. A little dusty and woody now, but will come together nicely in another year. Drink or hold.

Very pretty Chianti Classico with a medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. It’s medium-to full-bodied with integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. Cool and well crafted. Drink or hold.

Attractive violet-like florals with blueberry, red plum and blackcurrant, this makes a pure impression and has a degree of inherent, aromatic detail. The palate is smoothly rendered with fine tannins, suspended through layers of ripe dark berries and plums. Medium body. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This red blend has bright and spicy red and dark-berry aromas with a floral edge, as well as subtle, earthy and stony nuances. The palate is bright, light and focused on red-berry flavors. Drink now. Screw cap.

We loved this aromatic chardonnay from mountain vineyards in the Stellenbosch winegrowing region of South Africa. Rich, citrusy and intriguing.

Light pink with a really reductive nose, but the palate is not nearly as bad as the nose. There’s fruit, acid, balance, but it is marred by that nose. Very Good.

Bright crimson. Beautifully rich and flattering on the nose but by no means just sweet. Real combination of glowing, brilliant fruit, structure and freshness. This will clearly age well but is (just) ready to enjoy. Not heavy at all. Love this. More guts to it than many new wave Grenaches.

Mid crimson with a hint of purple. Gentle, sweet leathery nose. Good freshness and real transparency. Not at all like the McLaren Vale stereotype. Light, sweet and peppery. Tangy. Almost like Sangiovese with its fresh acidity and fine tannin - and its need for accompanying food! I wonder why they don't call this 'Old Vine' since the vines were planted the same year as those for the Old Vine Grenache?

Deep lustrous garnet. Pure Cabernet, quite leafy, notes but with a real undertow of ripe fruit. Enough acidity and very little tannin in evidence. Firm. Pretty dry finish. Very Cabernet.

Lean, high-acid, lime-fruited wine - very different from the richer, fruitier Oregon Chardonnays I have recently been tasting. Perhaps you lust after all this acidity if living in a hot climate but it strikes this British palate as just a bit demanding. Perhaps it will round out in bottle? Chablis style...?

Pale to very pale ruby with a broad, transparent rim. Very pretty nose indeed with violets and delicacy. Beautifully judged. Elegant fruit with a combination of strawberry and orange. Already very attractive fruit, sufficient acidity and very light tannin. Perhaps not a long distance runner but who cares?

Pale garnet. A bit more zest and concentration than the regular 2020 Pinot from this producer. Nicely judged. Intense with just a little bit of heat and fine tannin on the end. For current drinking I'd recommend the regular 2020. Wait until the second half of 2021 for this one.

Earth, dark cherry, tea, herbs and spice in this pinot that leans toward full-bodied with firm tannins and lingering finish. Very good.

The Bordeaux-Down-Under maritime climate of Margaret River is just one of Australia’s many top chardonnay zones. The state of Victoria is abundantly well served with vineyards that yield unusually elegant, racy but brightly fruited chardonnay, among them the Yarra Valley, home to Giant Steps. Like many top Aussie (and Burgundy) chardonnay producers, Giant Steps makes a range of several single-vineyard wines. But their blend of fruit from vineyards across the region is in lipsmacking form this vintage, which is all about the pristine tangy fruit and clean lines.

Light yellow color. Ooh, so inviting on the nose: lemon and orange peels, sea salt, crushed shells, honeycomb and mild butter. Precise acidity with generous texture. Ripe and nuanced with lemon curd, orange peel and kiwi, this is delicate and fresh with accents of chalk, sea salt, hay, almond, some nuanced honey and ginger. Refined, zippy and lovely. Sourced from Maple Grove, Gran Moraine, Zena Crown and other vineyards, aged 10 months in 25% new French oak. This is Siduri’s first shot at Chardonnay, and they rocked it.

The variety offered in an appellation blend is fun for Kate Ayers. "There are times where I say this is a better wine, as it showcases an entire appellation rather than one single vineyard. It blows up the Willamette Valley picture really big, and that's cool." Darker fruit shines here, loved the tannins and their intensity that surrounded the fruit.

Strand Sarah Wuethrich on a desert island and she wants unlimited Chablis. "I know I could never replicate that, but if you see perfect fruit, then use minimal intervention. Chardonnay is as complex as any pinot noir or red wine grape." Grown at a higher elevation with bud wood from sister winery Stonestreet's excellent Upper Barn Vineyard, it has flavors of honeysuckle, pear, lemon, lime, warm rock and chalk.